Diversity the Prisons, Make Them Look More Like the U.S.!

[ImmortalFlame]

I don’t think any demographic or culture is “over-represented” in our prison system.

Then you're factually wrong. Black people represent around 13% of the country but around 38% of the prison population.

Why do you think that is?

The numbers accurately reflect who it is within our population who are refusing to obey our laws.

If that's what you believe, then why do you believe black people "refuse to obey your laws" disproportionately?

They get zero sympathy from me. In fact, I think our system is far too generous to these criminals.

Sympathy has nothing to do with it. It's about sociology. I'm just trying to get you to answer some questions.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

The prison population, demographically, ethnically and culturally, does not reflect what America looks like.

Atheists are underrepresented in prisons.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

Atheists are underrepresented in prisons.

Ugh. Typical. Us atheists never have any fun.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Ugh. Typical. Us atheists never have any fun.

Atheists just receive afterlife sentences.

 

[Revoltingest]

Perhaps less consideration could be given to wealth if everyone were required to use public defenders...

Even the playing field a bit.

Bringing everyone's rights down to the lowest
common denominator? Nah.
I favor having fewer crimes to enforce, which
means legalizing drugs, public nudity, creating
a disturbance...victimless crimes.
And getting rid of crooked cops who create
criminals out of innocent people.

It's not a perfect solution...not even a solution.
Just improving things.

 

[Revoltingest]

Atheists are underrepresented in prisons.

We need an affirmative action program
to put more of us in prison.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

Bringing everyone's rights down to the lowest
common denominator? Nah.

Did... Did you just casually acknowledge that poor people have less rights than the wealthy?

Revoltingest secretly a Communist confirmed!

(Sadly, I could not find fan art of a soviet-looking Groundskeeper Willie...)

 

[Shaul]

The question is poorly stated. The general population includes children, the elderly and women. Yet each of those is certainly not proportionally represented in the prison population. Nor should they be. The "correct" prison population should reflect the demography of criminals. Which it generally does. Most violent criminals are young disadvantaged adult males. And most of those sentenced to prison are such.

 

[Shaul]

Yes it should be more like the general population. And it would be, if there was less racial prejudice in the police, more effort to help poor communities improve their lot in life and better effort to rehabilitate offenders so that they do not re-offend.

So you are in favor of more female incarceration.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

So you are in favor of more female incarceration.

That is a very odd conclusion to draw from that post.

 

[Revoltingest]

Did... Did you just casually acknowledge that poor people have less rights than the wealthy?

I wouldn't phrase it as you did, but there's common ground.
Lack of money, & lack of sophistication regarding the law
& economy are more likely to yield poor results.

Revoltingest secretly a Communist confirmed!

No, but I'm known to consort with commies.
I'm sympathetic to some ideals, just not
to all the means they'd use to realize them.

(Sadly, I could not find fan art of a soviet-looking Groundskeeper Willie...)

I too sometimes fail to find
the perfect image at times.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Crime is most often due to inadequate education and poverty. Tell us, @jbg, how the penal system is responsible for fixing those issues?

Funny. There's impoverished people who turn to crime.

On the other side, the elite commits more crimes than impoverished people do.

Difference is, one side will get-away with it.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

I wouldn't phrase it as you did, but there's common ground.
Lack of money, & lack of sophistication regarding the law
& economy are more likely to yield poor results.

No, but I'm known to consort with commies.
I'm sympathetic to some ideals, just not
to all the means they'd use to realize them.

I too sometimes fail to find
the perfect image at times.

We have much in common, comrade!

Soon, the workers shall unite behind us! Revolutionary Consciousness for all!

 

[Subduction Zone]

I don’t think any demographic or culture is “over-represented” in our prison system. The numbers accurately reflect who it is within our population who are refusing to obey our laws.

They get zero sympathy from me. In fact, I think our system is far too generous to these criminals.

There is just a bit of truth to this. The problem is that for the impoverished the only apparent way out for some is through crime. This is a "blame the victim" approach that you are using. If instead we improved education and increased opportunities "thug life" would soon die on its own.

 

[Twilight Hue]

It is. Eradicate the institutional racism and bias and bingo, prisons will be a true reflection of America.

Which is the endorsement of the continuing slave trade.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Funny. There's impoverished people who turn to crime.

On the other side, the elite commits more crimes than impoverished people do.

Difference is, one side will get-away with it.

What makes you think that elites commit more crimes than the impoverished do? Are there laws broken by both? Yes, but I seriously doubt your claim. You would need to support it somehow.

 

[Shaul]

That is a very odd conclusion to draw from that post.

Not necessarily. It is a logical extrapolation. It also means that you think there should be more Asians in prison who are also disproportional compared to their percentage of the general population.

 

[Twilight Hue]

What makes you think that elites commit more crimes than the impoverished do? Are there laws broken by both? Yes, but I seriously doubt your claim. You would need to support it somehow.

Because the system is intentionally designed to insulate and protect them.


Why Elite White-Collar Criminals Are Rarely Punished

 

[Aštra’el]

That is a very odd conclusion to draw from that post.

No, it is proving how ridiculous your logic is.

Half of all Americans are women… yet only 7% of inmates are women. Do you feel women are “under-represented” in prison? Is systemic-sexism responsible for the “over-representation” of men in prison?

 

[Estro Felino]

In my opinion, the prison population reflects the plutocracy in the US.
It's like putting a certain part of the population in their place.

By chance...can a person born within a poor family in a suburbs condominium, become POTUS someday in their life?

No, impossible. It's against the plutocracy of the US.